Springer Mountain to Three Forks

Up and out of the hotel early, made a run to Starbucks, then on to the Hiker Hostel. It is a beautiful home, amazing hostel. They dropped us at the trail today and will pick us up at journey’s end.

Rode an hour up windy roads to the parking lot .9 miles from Springer Mountain, the official start of the Appalachian Trail.

This is my hiking buddy, Oddbird, and me (aka Weaverbird) at the approach trail, just a few steps outside of the parking lot. We are happy to finally be starting this trip which Oddbird has planned for over 6 months, and we have both dreamed about for decades. My only wish is that I, too, could go all the way to Maine. Someday…

Sunny and 60 and straight uphill. You can see I’ve already shed my wool vest and long-sleeved shirt. It was hard hot work carrying a 30 pound pack up that mountain.

Views like this are one of the reasons I hike!

We took a side trail to see the Long Creek Falls. Someday I’d like to camp there for a few days, eat and sleep and live to the music of the falls. It was a magical place. I felt like I’d found fairy land.

The sun was high, I liked how thin I looked!

We stopped at Three Forks Friday night, set the tent up between two creeks. Each of the creeks had its own melody, one a faster tempo than the other, together, a marvelous symphony.

I’d hiked 5.6 miles in my VFF boots and my feet were still happy!

After a quick supper of trail food, we turned in before sunset and slept the clock around.